Stranded backpacker ‘desperate’ for work in Darwin
THE coronavirus pandemic has left dozens of international backpackers – some stranded, homeless and broke – desperately searching for work across Australia and here in the NT.
Northern Territory
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THE coronavirus pandemic has left dozens of international backpackers – some stranded, homeless and broke – desperately searching for work across Australia.
In Darwin, Scottish backpacker Darren Stewart, 27, says he’s now facing homelessness after weeks of not being able to find any employment.
“I managed to get a cash-in-hand job when I first arrived here with Frontier Cement Supplies but haven’t been able to get more work since I lost the top of my finger in a workplace accident there,” he said.
“I had been hooking some large bags of cement on to forklifts when the top of one of my fingers got crushed on August 19.
“I was glad the workplace paid for the medical fees to get my finger reattached but it’s been hard to find any type of work in the meantime with my injury.
“Now I can’t afford to stay in my hostel anymore and could be living on the streets as of Saturday.
“I would go back to the UK if I could afford it.”
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Mr Stewart said he was now looking into possibly lodging a compensation claim.
An NT WorkSafe spokesman urged all visa workers looking to work in the NT to familiarise themselves with their working rights and responsibilities.
“Unfortunately for Mr Stewart, neither he nor his previous employer reported the incident to NT WorkSafe when the incident occurred,” he said.
“NT WorkSafe’s inquiry into this matter is ongoing, and further action may be taken.”
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Frontier Cement Supplies has refused to comment on the incident.
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